The GIGN, France’s elite national gendarmerie tactical unit, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024. Each episode of the series revisits and breaks down one of its most daring missions.

EPISODE 1 (31 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet)

An Impossible Shot? (Djibouti, 1976)

On February 3, 1976, in Djibouti, terrorists from the Somali Coast Liberation Front took hostage a school bus carrying children of French military personnel. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing ordered the deployment of the GIGN. After several hours of negotiations, the assault was launched.

EPISODE 2 (24 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet)

First Assault (Orly, 1977)

On September 30, 1977, passengers aboard a Caravelle aircraft that had taken off from Orly Airport were taken hostage. Among them were two members of parliament, including a former minister.

EPISODE 3 (28 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet & Frédéric Decossas)

Bloody Manhunt (Basque Country, 1988)

On February 20, 1988, in the Landes region of southwestern France, the GIGN brought an end to the deadly manhunt for Philippe Bidart, the historic leader of the Basque separatist movement Iparretarrak.

EPISODE 4 (34 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet & Nicolas Cotto)

17 Minutes in Hell (Marignane, 1994)

On December 24, 1994, on the tarmac of Houari Boumédiène Airport, passengers aboard a flight bound for Paris were taken hostage by men belonging to the Armed Islamic Group.

EPISODE 5 (25 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet & Frédéric Decossas)

A Commitment for Life (Valaurie, 1997)

On June 23, 1997, a team from the GIGN was deployed to Valaurie, where an armed man had barricaded himself inside his home. The assault began around 3:30 a.m. During the operation, a gendarme was fatally wounded. It was the first time a member of the GIGN had been killed in action.

EPISODE 6 (27 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet & Frédéric Decossas)

Operation Air 34 (Hérault, 2008)

On June 22, 2008, near Béziers, the GIGN carried out a large-scale operation to intercept a helicopter being used to transport drugs.

EPISODE 7  (25 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet & Nicolas Cotto)

Go Fast (Millau, 2011)

On February 1, 2011, a spectacular operation set up by the GIGN at the entrance to the Millau Viaduct led to the interception of several vehicles transporting cannabis.

EPISODE 8 (28 min – Directed by Philippe Bodet)

The Hunt (Dammartin-en-Goële, 2015)

On January 9, 2015, two days after the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the Kouachi brothers barricaded themselves inside a printing warehouse in Dammartin-en-Goële. At around 5 p.m., the final assault was launched by the GIGN.